[Surgical treatment of paediatric brain tumours]

Central nervous system (CNS) tumours are the second most common neoplasm types in children. In most cases the aetiology is unknown, but some genetic syndromes can be related to CNS tumours. The symptoms are not specified, that is why in case of younger ages the tumour can reach extreme sizes. In case of infants the surgical technique is determined by the amount of circulating blood. Precise haemostasis is of utmost importance. In the last years, because of the development of imaging, surgical and anaesthetic techniques, the overall survival rate increased among paediatric brain cancer patients, and with this, the quality of life as well has improved significantly. Between 1975 and 2010 there was a 50% improvement in 5-year survival.